The Daily Sun-Up

Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang looks at how Colorado small businesses and big companies are responding to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the Trump administration’s tariffs are illegal. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/02/20/supreme-court-trump-tariff-colorado-implications/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins gets us caught up on the Colorado ski season, from the latest backcountry conditions after last week’s storm cycles, to wondering if the resorts can recover from a tough year and his favorite moments for the Colorado Olympians. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/02/18/avalanche-danger-spikes/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

G. Brown of the Colorado Music Experience and the Sun's Kevin Simpson talk breakup songs. https://cossa.co/conference https://coloradosun.com/outsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taylor Dolbin, a reporter who researched state policy models, and Erica Brenlin, a reporter on affordability and availability, discuss Colorado’s child care crisis. They explore why families face high costs and limited slots. They compare New Mexico’s universal approach and Vermont’s payroll tax model. They outline estimated statewide funding needs and local policy fixes.

Taylor Dolven, Colorado Sun reporter who dug into why federal actions targeted the state. Caitlyn Kim, CPR Washington correspondent covering Capitol impacts. Bente Birkeland, CPR reporter analyzing federal moves. They discuss public attacks and false claims, early signs like denied relief and Space Command, science center fallout, frozen safety-net funds, Project 2025 links, legal fights and local political trade-offs.

Tamara Chung, Business and tech reporter for The Colorado Sun, breaks down Colorado's higher-than-usual inflation with clear, local perspective. She discusses core inflation beyond food and energy. She outlines which categories rose or fell and how residents are trimming spending. She also previews trade and tariff effects on Colorado imports and exports.

Jason Blevins, a Colorado Sun outdoors reporter covering mountain communities, gives investigative updates on the five-year Argo gondola saga. He outlines the vanished $4.5M escrow and wider $11M fraud. He also discusses recoveries, a guilty plea, and how the revived gondola and Doppelmayr involvement could reshape Idaho Springs.

Eugene Buchanan, author and lifelong paddler who has lived along the Yampa River for decades, shares why he wrote Yampa Yearnings. He recounts a childhood river trip that shaped his life. He contrasts global river adventures with the Yampa and explores its unique free-flowing nature, ecology, and the research behind water rights, access, and stewardship.

Tracy Ross, a rural reporter for The Colorado Sun who covers wildlife and conservation, walks through Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s director search and reactions to finalist Laura Cleland. She previews debates over beaver and furbearer rules, updates on the 12th reintroduced wolf’s death, and explains the current pause and federal scrutiny around wolf reintroduction.

A wrenching court battle over the future of gender-affirming medical care and its legal stakes in Colorado. Federal actions and declarations that could reshape pediatric care are explained. A major round of layoffs at Colorado’s national renewable energy lab and shifting federal priorities for clean energy are examined.